Great New Liturgy Apps!

The first is the My Picture Missal App from Loyola Press. This App, available in the iTunes store at this link: My Picture Missal App, was developed for children with special needs and for young children. The intent of this interactive app is to help children learn, understand, and fully experience the Mass.

Children with special needs have spiritual lives and, with communication assistance, can learn the faith and deepen their relationship with God. My Picture Missal is a simple, interactive app that leads the child through the Order of Mass, including the words to the following prayers: Sign of the Cross, Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer.

With a choice of English or Spanish, each part of the Mass is displayed as a colorful icon and a word or short phrase. Additional icons can be activated at any time for stand, sit, kneel, quiet, pray, and take a break to remind children of what they should be doing, or children can show what they know, or communicate with parents without speaking. Children can use this app as a way to “walk through the Mass” in church and use it at home for reinforcement, as well as a way to learn and pray the prayers with their family.

The 2nd is an iPad app called The Mass Explained from Daniel Gonzalez, designed to foster a deeper understanding of the Mass and targeted at young adults and college students. This was recommended to me by Joyce Donahue, talented Catechetical Associate with the Office of Religious Education of the Diocese of Joliet, who blogs at Liturgy and Catechesis Shall Kiss.

Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

Regarding the Mass explained: absolutely beautiful. I have gifted it to my nephew who will come into the Church on Holy Saturday. I’m so excited to read it all myself. Thank you for a beautiful document to be proud of and share